Fuel line clearing and vapor lock removing device



Nov. 9, 1937. F. c. DALTON 2,098,720

FUEL LINE CLEARING AND VAPOR LOCK REMOVING DEVICE I Filed Oct. 20, 1936 2 ShetS-Sht 1 v CARBURETER p 1 FROM GASOLENE TANK TO F: C. D alien Gum/M44 Nov. 9, 1937. F. c. DALTON 2,098,720

FUEL LINE CLEARING AND VAPOR LOCK REMOVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I: I K\\\\\\\\\ b E 5a Q u 5 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFiCE FUEL LINE CLEARING AND VAPOR LOCK REMOVING DEVICE Frederick C. Dalton, Portland, Oreg. Application October 20, 1936, Serial No. 106,703

7 Claims.

My invention relates to internal combustion engine fuel feeding apparatus and it more specifically relates to motor vehicles using hydrocarbon fuel motors. These motors are usually provided with carburetors, of one type or another, to which fuel is delivered either by means of a fuel pump or vacuum tank from a reservoir or supply tank located at a remote place.

The fuel line from supply tank to carburetor sometimes becomes stopped up by foreign matter or a vapor lock may occur; in either event the proper operation of the engine is interfered with or the engine stopped. My invention has for its primary object to provide a simple, inexpensive,

easily operable device by the use of which the fuel line may be quickly and easily cleared out, vapor locks broken, and in the event that the fuel pump (or vacuum tank if such be used in lieu of a fuel pump) should become broken or fail to operate, fuel may nevertheless be' supplied to the carburetor for such length of time as may be required to reach a repair station.

Another object is to provide a device which can be used to lock the fuel line, shutting off the supply to the carburetor, thus preventing theft of the car.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter;

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention further resides in those novel combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts which will be described in detail hereinafter and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Y

- Fig. l is a view, somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism constituting the essential part of the invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the valve being shown in the normal position.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 but looking in a direction 180 therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 8-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the valve set to connect the fuel supply line to the carburetor and cut out the connection to the fuel pump.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the valve set to connect the hand pump with the fuel supply line and to shut ofl the connections to the fuel pump and carburetor.

Fig. 10 is a face view of the dial plate and the handlewith pointer cooperating therewith, also showing a locking device.

Fig. 11 is a detail end view of the valve.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, and 2 represent suitable supports, which, for example, may be the dash and instrument boards respec tively of a motor vehicle.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 10 inclusive it will be seen that the valve case 4 has a flange 3 by means of which it may be rigidly mounted on the support I. The case 4 has a tapering bore 5 constituting a valve seat, and a cylindrical bore 6 through which, the stub shaft 33, of the valve 3|, passes. It also has three ports, two of which, I and 8 are adjacent one another while the third I! is at right angles to the other two. A pipe fitting 9 is screwed into port I and connects by an elbow l0 and nut H with the pipe l2 that runs to the inlet side of the fuel pump 49, driven by the engine in the usual manner (not shown).

An elbow I3 is screwed into port 8 and connects through nut l4 to the fuel supply line l5, from the fuel tank (not shown).

The valve case 4 has a boss I6, at the port ll, into which is screwed an elbow Hi to which the pipe I9 is connected.

The pipe I9 is joined through a suitable fitting 5| to the pipe 50 which connects the outlet of the fuel pump 49 to the fuel inlet of the carburetor 53.

Some fuel pumps 49 have a back check valve where pipe 50 connects, but when a pump is used which has no back check valve (or when a vacuum,

tank is employed in lieu of a fuel pump) I prefer to insert a back check valve 52 in the line 50 between the fuel pump and fitting 5|.

The valve casing 4 has a pin hole 20 in which a latch pin 2| is located, the pin being designed to engage in the recesses 34 in the shouldered end of the valve 3|.

The hand pump barrel 22 is rigidly secured to the valve 3| (or formed integral therewith) and at its dash end it has a cap 23 having a bearing bushing24 for the piston rod 25 that carries a suitable piston 26 and is of an angular crosssection, so thatby turning the shaft 25 the barrel 22 and valve 3| may be turned as one. that the barrel 22 and valve 3| maybe turned In order and/or the piston I! worked back and forth in the barrel, a suitable handle 21-" is secured on the outer end of the rod II. The head 21 of the handle carries a pointer II which cooperates with the dial II; the position on the dial being respectively indicated as F, C, VL and L.

The valve Ii has a master bore 82 communicating with the interior 'of the barrel 2!. It also has a duct 4. with ports "-42 for effecting communication between ports I and O; a port It with branch 44 to effect communication between the master bore 32 and ports I and II, respectively, at times, and a port ll containing a check valve 41, valve spring 4| and a valve seat 40, for effecting communication between the master bore 82 and port 8 at times.

'Ihe valve II has a stub shaft 83 ilttingths cylindricalborel of thecaselandcarrying adisc out departing from the invention and the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim is:--

1. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a carburetor and a fuel supply line from a source ofsupply to the carburetor, and means normally causing a flow of fuelthrough said line to the carburetor, of means connected in said supply line adjacent the carburetor for closing oil thecarburetor feed and clearing out said fuel supply line.

2. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a carburetor and a fuel supply line from a source of supply to the carburetor, and means normally causing a flow of fuel through said line to the carburetor, of means connected in said supply line adjacent the carburetor for closing of! the carburetor feed and clearing out said 30, a spring 30, cup washer I! and dowel pins l ifuel supply line, said last named m also m.

in apertures II. The disc ll presses against pin 2| and forces it into the recesses N in the valve 3 I.

If desired any suitable locking means may be employed to secure the parts in the closed or inoperative position L (see 1'18. 10). For example such a device may comprise a pivoted bar I4 adapted to overlie the handle when in the L position (dotted lines in Hg. 10) and be secured to a post 5 by a suitable padlock ll.

Operation When the parts are positioned as indicated in Fig. l and shown in detail in Figs. 2 to inclusive and Fig. 10, they are in their normal positions. Thus fuel is drawn from the supply tank (not shown) via pipe ll, through ports 0, l2, duct 40, ports ll, 1, pipe I! to the intake of the motor operated fuel pump 40. From the pump 49 the fuel is forced in the usual way via pipe II to the carburetor 53 where it is carburetted and from which it is drawn into the enginein the well known way.

Should however a vapor lock occur or the fuel line become cloggcd, the operator turns the handle degrees from the position in Figs. 1 and 10 thereby turning valve 8i so that it assumes the position shown in Fig. 9. In this position the ports 'I and I I are closed but port I is in communication with master bore 32 via port "-40; by reciprocating rod 25 back and forth fuel is drawn from the tank into the barrel 22 and expelled therefrom back to the tank thereby clear-. ing pipe line i5, after which the valve is turned back to its normal position and the engine started again.

Should the mechanically actuated fuel pump I! fail to operate at any time fuel may be pumped to the carburetor by moving valve II to the position shown in Fig. 8 (pointer 28 pointing to C on dial 30) and reciprocating rod 25 as needed.

By turning handle 28 to the dotted line position of Fig. 10 and looking it, all fuel connections are closed so that it will be impossible for the pump 49 to draw fuel from the tank and deliver it to the carburetor, or for the hand pump 222526, to be used for that purpose.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts will be readily understood.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention I do not wish to be limited thereto,

since changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may readily be made withcluding means to. draw fuel through the supply line and deliver it' to the carburetor at will.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a carburetor and a fuel supply line from a source of supply to the carburetor, and means normally causing a flow of fuel through said line to the carburetor, of means connected in said supply line adjacent the carburetor for closing off the carburetor feed and clearing out said fuel supply line, said last named means also including means to draw fuel through the supply line and deliver it to the carburetor at will, and means cooperating with said last named means for locking the mechanism in position to close off the fuel supply to the carburetor and otherwise render the said last named means non-operative.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a mechanically actuated fuel pump, a carburetor, a pipe leading from said pump to said carburetor, a fuel supply line connected to said pump, of a device comprising a valve case having two separate ports connecting the fuel supply line and a third port, a pipe 001!- necting said third port to said pipe between said fuel pump and said carburetor, a valve in said case, a cylinder secured to said valve to turn therewith, a piston and piston rod within said cylinder, means to reciprocate said piston and its rod and to turn said cylinder, said valve having a master bore communicating with said cylinder. and having a duct with ports serving normally to effect communication between the sections of the fuel supply line to leave an uninterrupted flow of fuel through said fuel supply line to said carburetor via said mechanically actuated fuel pump, said valve having another port to effect communication between said master bore and said third port and a further port with check valve to communicate with the casing port to which fuel is delivered by said fuel supply line, in virtue of all of which when said valve is in a position to cut oil direct communication between the fuel supply and the carburetor, and when said another and further ports are in operating position, fuel may be manually pumped to the carburetor.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a mechanically actuated fuel pump, a carburetor, a pipe leading from said pump to said carburetor, a fuel supply line connected to said pump, of a device comprising a valve case having two separate ports connecting the fuel supply line and a third port, a pipe connecting said third port to said pipe between said fuel pump and said carburetor, a valve in said case, a cylinder secured to said valve to turn therewith,

a piston and piston rod within said cylinder, means to reciprocate said piston and its rod and to turn said cylinder, said valve having a master bore communicating with said cylinder, and having a duct with ports serving normally to effect communication between the sections of the fuel supply line to leave an uninterrupted flow of fuel through said fuel supply line to said carburetor via said mechanically actuated fuel pump, said valve having another port to effect communication between said master bore and said third port and a further port with check valve to communicate with the casing port to which fuel is delivered by said fuel supply line, in virtue of all of which when said valve is in a position to out off direct communication between the fuel supply and the carburetor, and when said another and further ports are in operating position, fuel may be manually pumped to the carburetor, said valve also including provisions to close off all communication between the source of fuel supply and said mechanically actuated pump and said carburetor but leave said master bore in communication with the source of supply through said fuel line, to clear out said fuel line when desired.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a mechanically actuated fuel pump, a carburetor, a pipe leading from said pump to said carburetor, a fuel supply line connected to said pump, a device comprising a valve case having two separate ports connecting the fuel supply line and a third port, a pipe connecting the third port to said pipe between said fuel pump and said carburetor, a valve in said case, a cylinder secured to said valve to turn therewith, a piston and piston rod within said cylinder, means to reciprocate said piston and its rod and to turn said cylinder, said valve having a master bore communicating with said cylinder, and having a duct with ports serving normally to effect communication between the sections of the fuel supply line to leave an uninterrupted flow of fuel through said fuel supply line to said carburetor via said mechanically actuated fuel pump, said valve having another port to effect communication between said master bore and said third port and a further port with check valve to communicate with the casing port to which fuel is delivered by said fuel supply line, in virtue of all of which when said valve is in a position to cut off direct communication between the fuel supply and the carburetor, and when said another and further ports are in operating position, fuel may be manually pumped to the carburetor, and means to lock said device in a position to entirely prevent the passage of fuel through said fuel supply line to either said mechanically actuated pump or said carburetor.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a mechanically actuated fuel pump, a carburetor, a pipe leading from said pump to said carburetor, a fuel supply line connected to said pump, of a device comprising a valve case having two separate ports connecting said third port to said pipe between said fuel pump and said carburetor, a valve in said case, a cylinder secured to said valve to turn therewith, a piston and piston rod within said cylinder, means to reciprocate said piston and its rod and to turn said cylinder, said valve having a masterbore communicating with said cylinder, and having a duct with ports serving normally to cfiect communication between the sections of the fuel supply line to leave an uninterrupted flow of fuel through said fuel supply line to said carburetor via said mechanically actuated fuel pump, said valve having another port to efiect communication between said master bore and said third port and a further port with check valve to communicate with the casing port to which fuel is delivered by said fuel supply line, in virtue of all of which when said valve is in a position to cut off direct communication between the fuel supply and the carburetor, and when said another and further ports are in operating position, fuel may be manually pumped to the carburetor, said valve also including provisions to close off all communication between the source of fuel supply and said mechanically ac tuated pump and said carburetor but leave said master bore incommunication with the source of supply through said fuel line, to clear out said fuel line when desired and means to lock said device in a position to entirely prevent the passage of fuel through said fuel supply line to either said mechanically actuated pump or said carburetor.

FREDERICK C. DALTON. 

